Wychavon

Wychavon's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, religion and work life.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Wychavon increased by 3.5%, from almost 113,000 to 117,000.

The addition of almost 4,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wychavon was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wychavon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wychavon increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This rural area had the third-highest average age in the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 14% of people in Wychavon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wychavon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Wychavon

The number of people in Wychavon that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 92,000 in 2001 to just under 84,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 81% to 72% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 73% to 60%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Wychavon that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just under 24,000 in 2011 (from 11% to 20%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 7,400 to about 8,100 (from 6.5% to 6.9%).

About 430 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 230 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population who identified as Christian in Wychavon decreased by 9.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wychavon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wychavon

The percentage of Wychavon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.7% to 7.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of Wychavon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.1% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Wychavon saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wychavon said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 2.0% to 2.8%.

Across the region, only East Staffordshire saw a greater fall in the proportion of people working long hours (from 16% to 11%).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 13% to 9.4%.

Long hour working in Wychavon decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wychavon, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Wychavon

The proportion of married people fell in Wychavon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 48%.

During this period, Wychavon overtook four local authority areas, including Lichfield and Bromsgrove, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the highest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wychavon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.7% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Wychavon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wychavon decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wychavon, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Wychavon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.9% to 9.6%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wychavon that rented privately increased from 6.4% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of Wychavon households that owned their home decreased from 76% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wychavon increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wychavon, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Wychavon

The number of people in Wychavon from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 110,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wychavon from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 480 in 2001 to just over 1,100 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 1.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 540 to about 960 (from 0.5% to 0.8%).

Just under 230 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 170 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wychavon remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wychavon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Wychavon residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wychavon remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wychavon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Wychavon with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.5% to 9.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 29% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Wychavon without children increased from 62% to 63%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Wychavon residents that were studying increased from 2.2% to 2.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage of Wychavon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.1%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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